Katie Price's ex-husband told alleged teenage victim to 'take it to the grave', rape trial hears

Kieran Hayler, the former husband of television personality Katie Price, allegedly instructed a 13-year-old girl to keep their encounters secret, warning her to "take it to the grave," a jury at Lewes Crown Court has been told.

Hayler, 39, is facing trial accused of three counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. The allegations relate to incidents said to have occurred in West Sussex in 2016. He denies all charges against him.

The court heard evidence from the complainant, who was 13 years old at the time of the alleged offences. Jurors were shown a video recording of a police interview in which the girl wept as she described her experiences and explained why she had initially concealed the full extent of what she claimed had happened.

During the interview, the complainant said she had told her mother that Hayler had touched her but had stopped short of revealing that the contact had been sexual in nature. She explained that she feared her mother might believe she had encouraged the behaviour, saying she "didn't want her to think I was disgusting."

She told officers: "I thought it was my fault for ages." The complainant also expressed concern that her mother might conclude "maybe I'd led him on."

The court heard that the complainant described receiving a telephone call from Hayler approximately two to three years after the alleged incidents. According to her account, he raised the subject of secrecy during that conversation.

She recalled him saying something along the lines of: "You promise you won't tell anyone? What we had was special - you better take it to the grave." The complainant also stated that Hayler suggested speaking out might cause trouble for her and that the situation could end badly, though she told police she had not felt afraid of him at the time.

When questioned about her emotional state following the three alleged rapes, the complainant said she had believed Hayler genuinely cared for her. She explained that she had not regarded his behaviour as harmful because of the manner in which he had characterised it, stating that he had described it as "a good thing."

The court heard that the complainant recalled engaging in compulsive washing behaviour in the aftermath of the alleged incidents. She remembered taking "four showers a day after that" and said her mother had observed her "always washing" and changing her underwear "several times" daily.

She also described feelings of confusion and distress, telling police: "I definitely remember thinking he's a lot older than me, is this something he should be doing?" She added: "I remember crying and wondering if it should have been happening."

After the jury viewed the recorded police interview, the alleged victim provided evidence in person, giving testimony from behind a screen. During this session, she was asked whether she recalled anything further. Speaking about the third alleged incident, she said Hayler had sent her a message saying, "I love you, goodnight," to which she had replied, "I love you too."

The investigation into Hayler began in 2021 when the complainant contacted the NSPCC, the children's charity, which subsequently referred the matter to police. Hayler was first interviewed by officers in January 2022. During that interview, he denied that any of the allegations had taken place and denied that anything sexual had occurred.

At the time of the alleged offences, Hayler was married to Katie Price, a well-known British media personality. The couple's relationship broke down in 2018, and they divorced in 2021.

The court heard that Hayler has suggested his former wife "launched a campaign" against him following the breakdown of their marriage and that the allegations form part of that campaign. The complainant is not a member of either Hayler's or Price's extended families, the jury was told.

Price is expected to appear as a witness during the trial, which is anticipated to last approximately one week. The proceedings continue before the court.

The case has drawn significant media attention owing to Hayler's former marriage to Price, a prominent figure in British entertainment and broadcasting. Legal proceedings of this nature, involving allegations of historical sexual offences against a minor, typically require careful handling by courts to ensure both the complainant's welfare and the defendant's right to a fair hearing are protected. Restrictions on reporting, including the anonymity afforded to complainants in sexual offence cases, remain in force.

The trial at Lewes Crown Court is ongoing, and the jury will ultimately determine whether the prosecution has proven its case beyond reasonable doubt. Hayler continues to deny all charges.